After a number of box office flops in the 2000s, his later commercial successes included Bhagam Bhag (2006), Partner (2007) and Life Partner (2009). In 2015 Govinda became a judge on Zee TV's dance-contest program, Dance India Dance Super Mom Season 2, replacing Mithun Chakraborty.[10][11][12] The show received the highest TRP of any reality-show opening episode.[13] His upcoming film is FryDay, its first look was released recently.[14]

Govinda, also known as "Chichi Bhaiya", was born on 21 December 1963 to former actor Arun Kumar Ahuja and singer-actress Nirmala Devi[16] into a family with Punjabi and Sindhi roots. Govinda's mother hailed from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.[17] Arun is best known for Mehboob Khan's Aurat (1940).[18] He produced one unsuccessful film and became ill shortly afterwards.[18] The family, living in a bungalow on Mumbai's Carter Road, moved to Virar—a northern Mumbai suburb—where Govinda was born.[18] The youngest of six children,[19] he was given the pet name "Chi Chi", meaning "little finger" in Punjabi, the language spoken at home.[19][20]

After Govinda received a Bachelor of Commerce degree, his father suggested a career in film. Around this time, Govinda saw the film Disco Dancer; afterwards, he practised for hours and circulated a promotional VHS cassette. He was offered jobs in a fertiliser commercial and an Allwyn ad.

His first lead role was in Tan-Badan opposite Kushboo, directed by his uncle Anand. Govinda began shooting for his next film, Love 86, in June 1985.[21][22] His first release was Ilzaam (1986) which was a box office success, soon followed by another hit Love 86 that same year.

Govinda then joined the Indian National Congress. He won a seat in Parliament from Mumbai North by defeating five-time MP Ram Naik, a former Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, by over 50,000 votes in the 2004 general election.

The actor took a break from films during the period of 2003 to 2005. He had no new film releases in 2004 and 2005, although some of his delayed films were released during this time, (such as 2005's Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen and Ssukh—produced by Govinda and directed by his brother, Kirti Kumar—and 2006's Sandwich) which were box office failures.

Govinda made a comeback to films in late 2006 with the hit comedy Bhagam Bhag (directed by Priyadarshan), in which he appeared with Akshay Kumar and Lara Dutta. It was Govinda and Kumar's first film together.

The following year he played a lawyer in the hit, Life Partner, and his performance was praised by the critics.[33] Govinda rejoined Dhawan and Vashu Bhagnani for Do Knot Disturb; despite good reviews from critics, it was unsuccessful at the box office.[34]

In 2004, Govinda joined the Congress Party and was elected to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Indian parliament) from Mumbai by 50,000 votes over the five-term incumbent.[67]

During the elections, he said his agenda would be prawaas (transportation), swasthya (health) and gyaan (education). In the field of transportation, he claimed 80% credit for the quadrupling of the Borivali-Virar section of the Western Railway zone. According to official sources, he made some efforts in the fields of health and education. The Thane district collector said in an interview that Govinda had committed money from his "local area development fund" (allocated to each MP by the government) to construct anganwadis and solve drinking-water problems in Vasai and Virar but administrative approval was delayed.

Govinda's film-star status could explain his inaccessibility to his constituents but not his absence from parliament. During his tenure as the Member of Parliament, Govinda was usually absent when the Lok Sabha was in session and he was severely criticised for inactivity.[68] At the same time, he continued his film career while he was serving as an MP. Indeed, his career witnessed a comeback of sorts in 2007, after the release of Partner (co-starring Salman Khan, who had been instrumental in getting him the role). He was pilloried in the press for the combination of continuing to act in films while being generally absent from parliament, and inaccessible to his constituents. On 20 January 2008, Govinda decided to leave politics and concentrate on his Bollywood acting career.[69]

Govinda with his daughter, Tina Ahuja, at a Bright Advertising Awards announcement

Govinda's father, Arun Ahuja, was an actor during the 1940s; his mother, Nirmala Ahuja, was an actress and singer. His brother, Kirti Kumar, is an actor, producer and director. His sister, Kaamini Khanna, is a writer, music director and singer. Govinda's friend, Anand Singh (assistant to director Hrishikesh Mukherjee), introduced him in Tan-Badan. Singh's sister-in-law Sunita Golwalkar fell in love with Govinda at this time, and they were married on 11 March 1987. Their marriage was a secret for four years.[70] They have two children: daughter Tina Ahuja and son Yashvardhan. Tina made her Bollywood debut in the 2015 Second Hand Husband.

Govinda was seriously injured on 5 January 1994 while travelling to a studio for the shooting of Khuddar. The actor's car collided with another car, and he sustained head injuries. Although he was bleeding profusely, Govinda did not cancel the shoot; after seeing a doctor, he worked until midnight.[71][72][73]

In January 2008, Govinda slapped a struggling actor, Santosh Rai, on the set of Money Hai Toh Honey Hai at Filmistan Studio in Mumbai. On 5 February 2009, Rai filed a complaint against Govinda, accusing him of assault and criminal intimidation, in the Borivali Magistrate Court. In 2013, the court ruled against Rai.[74][75] In 2014, Rai took his case to the Supreme Court. He said that he had come to Mumbai to become an actor, and felt very humiliated when he was slapped by Govinda. According to Rai, he had contested the case for six years and had spent ₹500,000–600,000 on attorney fees. Since the actor did not apologise, he was more determined to fight him in court.[76][77][78] In December 2015, the Supreme Court asked Govinda to apologise to Rai for slapping him and settle the whole matter out of the court immediately in the span of two weeks. The actor said that he "respects" the court's decision, and will decide when he receives it in writing.[79][80]

In 2014 Govinda appeared on Star Plus' Mad In India, dancing to some of his hits with Karisma Kapoor. The following year he replaced Mithun Chakraborty as a judge on Zee TV's dance-based reality show, Dance India Dance Super Mom Season 2.[10][11][12] The show received the highest TRP for any season opener of a reality show.[13]

In 1999, Govinda was voted the world's tenth-greatest star of stage or screen in a BBC News Online poll.[87] In July 2016, he was recognised as Actor of the Decade at the India Leadership Conclave in Mumbai.[88]

Govinda has worked with music directors Anand Milind and Anand Raj Anand and playback singer Udit Narayan. Narayan has sung more than 100 songs for Govinda in more than 40 films, the greatest number of films and songs he has sung for a particular actor. Other singers associated with Govinda include Kumar Sanu, Vinod Rathod, Abhijeet Bhattacharya and Sonu Nigam.
In the film "Farz Ki Jung" (1989) there was a popular song "Phool Ka Shabab Kya, Husn Mahatab Kya..." which was sung by Late Mohammed Rafi picturized on Govinda.

His first album, Govinda, was released in 1998.[89] In November 2013 Govinda released his second album, Gori Tere Naina, with actress Pooja Bose. Govinda also wrote lyrics.